10 Hard Rock Bands Never Better Than Their First Album

Yep... this one's a big one. When Jimi Hendrix first hit the scene, to say that he sounded like no one else sells the man incredibly short. While still being rooted in blues, Hendrix blended different sounds together seemlessly in a way that almost felt like it was being channeled from another plain of existence.

In terms of the best of his catalog, his first outing with his backing band on Are You Experienced remains the definitive Hendrix record. From the soul-infused rock ballads like "The Wind Cries Mary" to the mix of hard rock and R&B on "Manic Depression," the album struck the perfect balance between mind bending technique and infectious melodic hooks. As on later releases, Hendrix's prowess with his six-string seems almost effortless, as he does with two fingers what most guitarists couldn't hope to do with eight arms.

I will admit that the man's discography with the Experience on Electric Ladyland and Axis: Bold As Love are also essential listening for anyone interested in getting rocked by Hendrix. However, while those records centered on guitar odysseys and songwriting material respectively, this is the one record that put both of those pieces together to create some of the best tunes of the Summer of Love.